We are so far up the ass of late-stage capitalism that people have forgotten the difference between a business and a public service.
Reposted from
Kath Barbadoro
sesame street isn't supposed to make money. the post office isn't supposed to make money. not everything is supposed to MAKE MONEY
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The ultimate example is always the fire department, because anyone with a shred of sense can instantly see what a disaster a for-profit fire department would be.
Money goes in, from tax revenue, service goes out.
governments everywhere subsidize plenty of things that operate at a loss because they have immense social benefit (schools and healthcare most places that aren't here, for instance)
Now, the service may or may not help people & companies make money. Both possibilities should and will exist.
It’s heresy to suggest that people should have things because we can provide them to everyone.
The post office is the same. Money goes in, vital public infrastructure goes out
It's about the 2016 Trump transition team and what happens when the govt don't care about governing.
It's a good spotlight on all the people that will be fired in the name of "Government Efficiency" and the good bits siphoned off to private business
I also read it in maybe 2018.
Will be interesting to see how it has aged
It also has one of my favourite pieces of prose
https://newrulesnewlife.tumblr.com/post/181843503133/in-the-weeks-after-the-elk-city-tornado-lonnie
"It's what you fail to imagine that kills you"
Seem unable to conceive of health care as a public service.
“Becuase it’s important to invest in society.”
“I understood all those words but when you put them together it’s just nonsense sounds”
I think there are a lot of people who don't think the public service should exist at all and the only purpose for anything is to make them money.
They've just suckered a lot of people who don't benefit at all into agreeing with them.
I'm sure the merch alone could easily support the production of the show and maybe even a whole streaming service JUST for PBS shows.
All of which is immaterial because the premise of gov-as-business is wrong.